Chapter 360: Dividing Up the Taiwu Empire
One day later, a Xiang Immortal drenched in blood haphazardly made his way toward a forested region where countless crow spirits roosted.
When the crow spirits noticed the Xiang Immortal, they quickly approached him in a cacophony of caws.
"The city of Tianwu has been struck by calamity. Where's your crow king? Why hasn't it shown itself? Bring me to it!" the Xiang Immortal cried out.
The crow spirits were about to lead the Immortal away when another bloody cultivator emerged from the forest.
"Come with me, Second Uncle! The crow spirits have betrayed us!" The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
"What?!" the Immortal cried out.
The leader of the crow spirits cawed, causing the crows to dart forward to attack the cultivators.
The Immortal blanched. He defended himself with a palm strike, sending the crow spirits flying back, as he pulled the other cultivator into the clouds.
Deep within the forest, a crow Immortal emerged, only to find that the two cultivators were already gone.
The cultivators fled into a secluded valley, each only then realizing that the other was badly hurt.
"Second Uncle, what's with all this blood?!" the cultivator cried out.
"His Majesty perished to Nalan Qiankun, and Xiao Nanfeng took over Tianwu. We've suffered tremendous losses, and I barely escaped," the Immortal said.
"What? Xiao Nanfeng and Nalan Qiankun have formed an alliance?" the cultivator exclaimed.
"No, they haven't! Nalan Qiankun was badly wounded by Xiao Nanfeng as well."
"Ah?"
"What happened to the crow spirits? Their cultivation is all thanks to the Xiang clan! How could they have betrayed us?"
"Yesterday, Nalan Qiankun himself showed up here. He and his crane spirits slew countless crow spirits, forcing them to surrender to the Tianshu Empire. Then, they in turn slew the Taiwu forces gathered in the vicinity to prove their allegiance. Everyone else is dead. I'm the only one who managed to survive."
"Nalan Qiankun came here yesterday? That can't be—he was at Tianwu! Could it have been his avatar?"
"That has to be the case," the cultivator agreed.
The Immortal scowled. "Xiao Nanfeng and Nalan Qiankun's main bodies and avatars were all in the vicinity of Taiwu. Were they willing to sacrifice everything in order to take on the Taiwu Empire? How vicious they are. Aren't they worried that their own empires would have been attacked?"
"Perhaps they prepared for it," the cultivator replied.
"Damn it!" the Immortal cursed.
"Second Uncle, what should we do?"
"Wait for King Shaoyin to return. We'll have King Shaoyin take the throne, then rally around him to fight off Xiao Nanfeng and Nalan Qiankun."
The paper figure frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng is growing too rapidly. Do we need to do something about it?"
"Of course, but that's a matter for after my main body recovers. I don't want to take more risks for the moment."
"Oh?"
"There's still the better part of a month before he intends to ascend his kingdom into an empire. Let's give him a surprise before that." Nalan Qiankun smirked.
In the Xiao study at Yongding, Zheng Qian smiled wryly. "Dazheng has claimed too many territories in too short a period of time. I've been tasked to provide countless officials to the new territories, but we're severely short-staffed. There aren't that many trained, loyal, and competent officials about."
"Have those officials dispatched to our new territories been slacking off?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
"Them? Oh, no. They're incredibly excited. Because of how short-staffed we are, they're getting promotions one after another. They know how rare this sort of opportunity is, and they'd work twice as many hours in the day if they could."
"As long as they're working hard. The soldiers know that this sort of rapid expansion and ability to acquire merit is rare, as do the officials. Furthermore, the Dazheng kingdom is about to ascend into the Dazheng Empire. Who doesn't want a brighter future for themselves? This is how Dazheng should be." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.
Zheng Qian nodded. "It is a good thing, King Xiao, but we are still terribly short-staffed. We can't keep up with your expansion!"
"It's not a problem. Pick some of the more talented officials of Taiwu for the moment. They might not be trustworthy, but they'll do for the time being. Once everything settles down, keep the loyal and discard the rest."
Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.
"Nalan Qiankun has also begun to fight over Taiwu territory. Even if the remaining Xiang Immortals band together, they're done for. We have no time to waste. Mr. Zheng, I'm counting on you for the moment."
"Understood, King Xiao!" Zheng Qian replied seriously.
Zheng Qian took his leave, leaving just Blue Lantern in the room.
"Blue Lantern, what do you think of the current state of the kingdom of Dazheng?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile.
"It is flourishing and full of vitality," Blue Lantern praised.
"I'd like to use this jade compass you granted me to ask you a favor," Xiao Nanfeng said.
Blue Lantern frowned. The jade compass had been meant as a gift of gratitude to Emperor Wei for helping free him from the undying cursed king's control. However, he had died, so Xiao Nanfeng had benefited from the gift as a result.
"You'd like me to support you?" Blue Lantern asked, frowning.
"Not for an extended period of time. I'd like to ask for ten years of your service. I'll treat you as a friend, and you need not bow down to me. Ten years later, you shall be free to do what you will," Xiao Nanfeng said expectantly.
Blue Lantern frowned. He would have refused the offer immediately in the past. After all, Emperor Wei himself had requested Blue Lantern's support for his divine empire. He hadn't even accepted then—and Dazheng was only a kingdom. However, he now considered Xiao Nanfeng's proposal more carefully. For some reason, he had been very unlucky in the short term, but Xiao Nanfeng had somehow turned things around. Should he take advantage of Xiao Nanfeng to counteract his bad luck?
Blue Lantern pondered for a long moment before he spoke. "I will only do what I deem acceptable."
"I accept!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes brightened.
He hadn't expected the recruitment to go quite so smoothly; he had prepared more extensive arguments and persuasion, but it seemed he wouldn't need to use any of that now.
